Home
2002 Awards
MVP: Barry Bonds, lf, Vermont .318, 37 d, 66 hr, 146 r, 143 rbi, .470 obp, .799 slg, 1.269 ops
CY YOUNG: Tim Hudson, Tennessee 15-9, 2.48, 33 gs, 228 ip, 195 h, 18 hr, 69 bb, 208 k, .232 oba
2002 Postseason
ELCS: Vermont (92-70) vs. Tennessee (96-66)
The Tennessee Smokies, making their first postseason appearance, take on the incredible Vermont Maples, who won their 5th Colonial Division title. Vermont has never had a losing record in the 10-year history of the AA.
The Maples had high expectations after bolstering their pitching staff by making a huge trade before the season, prying Greg Maddux away from the Arizona Eagles for Matt Clement, Bruce Chen, Bubba Trammell, Gabe White, Chris George, and Drew Henson. Maddux did not disappoint, going 17-9, 3.92 to lead the otherwise mediocre Maples staff.
Maddux squared off against Tim Hudson (15-9, 2.48) in game 1. Hudson smoked Barry Bonds and the Maples, posting a 3-0 whitewashing at Smoky Park. In game 2, Jarrod Washburn is up to the task for Vermont, outdueling John Burkett in a 7-1 Maples win.
Tied 1-1, the series shifted to Maple Park in Vermont, where the Maples took game 3, 8-4. Bonds got his first hits of the series, going 3-3 with a 3-run homer. The Smokies bounced back to take game 4, 6-3. Tennessee sent Hudson back to the mound in game 5, and he pitched well again, allowing only two runs and again outdueling Maddux in a 4-2 win.
The Smokies now only needed to win one of two at home to be crowned ELCS champs! And game 6 was a thriller, as Washburn faced Burkett. The Smokies built a 2-1 lead going into the eighth, but Bonds tied it with a clutch two-out single. Both bullpens were emptied as the game went into the 13th inning, when Larry Walker launched a homer for a 3-2 Vermont lead. Mike Timlin came on to close it out and the resilient Maples had tied the series!
Game 7: Schmidt for Tennessee against Vermont's Ramon Ortiz in a game 3 rematch. The Maples struck for a quick 2-0 lead in the first on Biggio's single and an error by shortstop Relaford. Beltran homered in the home half for Tennessee to make it 2-1 Maples. Luis Gonzales then blasted a two-run shot in the third for a 3-2 Tennessee lead as the hometown fans went wild! After that, it was all Schmidt, DeJean and Rivera. The Smoky trio allowed only two baserunners after the third, and Tennessee advanced to its first American Classic with a 3-2 win!
WLCS: California (87-75) vs. St. Louis (89-73)
The defending champion California Redwoods traveled to St. Louis to take on the Stallions, who held off a late charge from the Austin Sentinel to capture the Heartland Division title.
David Cone tossed a beautiful 2-hit game for seven innings and the St. Louis bullpen closed the door in a 3-2 Stallions win in game 1. The Redwoods struck back for a 5-4 win in game 2. Kerry Wood was tossing a 2-hit shutout as the Redwoods took a 4-0 lead into the ninth. Wood set down Vladimir Guerrero and Jeromy Burnitz and was one out away from the shuotut. Then...disaster! Tejeda walked, Miller singled, and Ventura walked to load the sacks for Marcus Giles (filling in for the injured Offerman), and Giles blasted a grand slam to tie the game! Bernie Williams untied it with a 14th-inning homer to provide the margin of victory.
The Stallions won a laugher in game 3, 15-4. St. Louis followed that with a 5-2 win and were now just one game away from their second American Classic. In game 5, the Redwoods built a 4-0 lead after six, only to watch the amazing Stallions chip away with a run in the seventh, two in the eighth, and two in the ninth. The Redwoods could not respond, and the defending champs' defense was over. The Stallions advanced to the American Classic to face Tennessee!
American Classic X Summary